System Administration Guide: Basic Administration

The analyze Menu

The analyze menu looks similar to the following.


format> analyze
 
ANALYZE MENU:
    read     - read only test   (doesn't harm SunOS)
    refresh  - read then write  (doesn't harm data)
    test     - pattern testing  (doesn't harm data)
    write    - write then read      (corrupts data)
    compare  - write, read, compare (corrupts data)
    purge    - write, read, write   (corrupts data)
    verify   - write entire disk, then verify (corrupts data)
    print    - display data buffer
    setup    - set analysis parameters
    config   - show analysis parameters
    quit
analyze> 

The following table describes the analyze menu items.

Table 36–4 Descriptions for analyze Menu Item

Sub-Command 

Description 

read

Reads each sector on the current disk. Repairs defective blocks as a default. 

refresh

Reads then writes data on the current disk without harming the data. Repairs defective blocks as a default. 

test

Writes a set of patterns to the disk without harming the data. Repairs defective blocks as a default. 

write

Writes a set of patterns to the disk then reads the data on the disk back. Destroys existing data on the disk. Repairs defective blocks as a default. 

compare

Writes a set of patterns to the disk, reads the data back, and then compares it to the data in the write buffer. Destroys existing data on the disk. Repairs defective blocks as a default. 

purge

Removes all data from the disk so that the data can't be retrieved by any means. Data is removed by writing three distinct patterns over the entire disk (or a section of the disk). If the verification passes, a hex-bit pattern is written over the entire disk (or a section of the disk). 

Repairs defective blocks as a default. 

verify

Writes unique data to each block on the entire disk in the first pass. Reads and verifies the data in the next pass. Destroys existing data on the disk. Repairs defective blocks as a default. 

print

Displays the data in the read/write buffer. 

setup

Lets you specify the following analysis parameters: 

Analyze entire disk? yes
Starting block number: depends on drive
Ending block number: depends on drive
Loop continuously? no
Number of passes: 2
	Repair defective blocks? yes
Stop after first error? no
Use random bit patterns? no
Number of blocks per transfer: 126 (0/n/nn)
Verify media after formatting? yes
Enable extended messages? no
Restore defect list? yes
Restore disk label? yes

Defaults are shown in bold. 

config

Displays the current analysis parameters. 

quit

Exits the analyze menu.